A QUICK-thinking teenager came to the rescue of a pensioner while delivering newspapers in Baxenden.

Paperboy Adam Swindells, 13, of Hexham Close, was on his early-morning rounds when he heard Dorothy Iddon, 86, crying out for help.

She had fallen in the living room of her bungalow in Coleridge Drive and could not get up.

Adam, who attends The Hollins Technology College, dashed around the side of the house and opened the kitchen door. He ran inside and found a distressed Mrs Iddon on the floor.

Adam, who lives with his parents Carol and Ian and his brother Ben, said: "I looked for her walking stick but couldn't find it so I tried to lift her on to a small chair."

"It was difficult so I went looking for help. I found the husband of one of my mum's friends, who is a joiner. He got someone else and they soon got her back up."

"She was on the floor in the living room and said she had been there for a couple of hours.''

Paramedics took Mrs Iddon to hospital after she suffered a bruised arm in the incident.

Back home this week, she said: "I would just like to thank Adam for his help."

Adam's boss Keith Windle, who runs the newsagents in Manchester Road, said: "He is a very bright lad and is good at his job. He did very well. If she'd been left lying on the floor much longer anything could have happened."